Glaze applying machine



June 7, 1949. v c s $472,454

GLAZ-E APPLYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 13, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 7, 1949.. v v. E. ACKLES 2,472,454

GLAZE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1947 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 7, 1949. V K S 2,472,454

GLAZE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1947 4 Shets-Sheet s June 7, 1949. v, ACKLES 2,472,454

GLAZE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Jan. l3, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 7, 1949 GLAZE APPLYING MACHINE Virgil E. Ackles, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Doughnut Corporation of America, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January '13, 1947, Serial No. 721,815

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to machines for glazing doughnuts and the like and more particularly to a machine useful in the commercial production of doughnuts, crullers and the like. Glazing is that process which completely coats the article as distinguished from icing in which the coating is applied to one side only. It is an object of the invention to provide a machine for glazing doughnuts and the like which is capable of high production and in which the goods being processed are not touched by hand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine for glazing doughnuts and the like wherein the glazing process is performed within the confines of the body of glazing material so that none of the material will drip on the floor with consequent waste of material, and increased cost of keeping the premises clean.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a glazing machine for doughnuts and the like which is simple in construction and is both simple and reliable in operation and which is easy to maintain in a clean and sanitary condition, the latter being of major importance in the manufacture of food products.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides inthe parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the operating side of a machine embodying the principles of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a view of the machine in side elevation with portions removed and portions shown in section, depicting th mechanism thereof in an alternate position to that shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is an end elevation as viewed from the left of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional end view of the glaze distributing means, the section being taken substantially on the line B6 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a transverse section of one of the supporting tracks for the glaze distributing means, the section being taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 8 is a top plan sectional view of the base structure taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3,

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are somewhat schematic views showing the relation and movements of certain of the elements in a cycle of operation of the machine,

Fig. 13 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the hinging means for the doughnut supporting trays,

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of a, receiving tray used in connection with the machine, and

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the swinging tray associated with the machine.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention shown by way of example and particularly to Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, the frame structure is formed from angle irons welded together and comprises a generally rectangular base including side members I and 2 and end members 3 and 4, the base preferably being supported on casters 5 to render the machine portable. Rising from the points of juncture of the end member 3 with the side members I and 2 are vertical members 6 and I and rising from the other or forward ends of the members I and 2 are vertical members 8 and 9. The members 6, l, 8 and 9 at their upper ends support a rectangular upper frame member Ill.

Mounted on and carried by the upper frame member It is the flanged top portion I2 of a shallow pan I3 of generally rectangular outline. The bottom I 4 of the pan slopes slightly toward the forward end of the frame structure and terminates in a trough-like deeper portion I5 divided from the main portion by a removable vertical wall portion I6 the bottom of which is spaced from the bottom I4 of the pan I3 to provide an opening I! along the lower edge thereof.

Approximately midway of the side of the ma chine and welded to the frame members I and I 0 are a pair of spaced vertically disposed, track supporting members I8 and I9 formed of angle iron and having on their opposed, outwardly facing legs U-shaped track elements 28 and 2| adapted to be engaged, as best shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, by a carriage structure comprisin spaced cross members 22 and 23, each carrying at each end a track engaging wheel 24 engaging the bottom and side walls of the track elements 20 and 2|. Welded or otherwise secured to the cross members 22 and 23 is a pair of vertically disposed tray supporting members 25 and 26 connected at their upper ends by a cross member 21. Welded or otherwise secured to the members 25 and 26 between the members 22 and 23 is a bar 28 of shallow lJ-shaped,configurationwhich bar intermediate its ends is pivotally connected at 29 to one end of a toggle member 30 which at its other end is pivoted at 31 to one end of a second toggle member 32 the latter in turn being pivoted at 33 to a lug 34 on the frame member I and therebeyond terminating in a foot pedal portion 35. The opposite side of the frame structure carries an identical track and carriage structure to which further reference is thought to be unnecessary; it being noted that whenever any elements thereof appear in the drawings, they have been given the same numbers as the corresponding parts described above in detail.

The upper cross members 2], 21 of the vertically movable carriages, just described, engage and support the laterally and downwardly outturned portions 36, 36 of the side members 31, 31 of a tray support which members at their lower ends extend the entire length of the pan l3 and are movable into and out of the pan closely adjacent the side walls thereof. The tray support side members along their lower edges are interconnected by a series of bars 38 welded thereto which bars support a tray 39, one end of which is hinged to the side members 37, 3'! at 39, 39'. The bottom of the tray is formed of a series of spaced parallel bars 39' extending transversely to the bars 38 and thus the rack can enter and leave a body of glazing material in the pan 13 with relative ease.

In the position shown in Fig. 1, the tray supporting structure above described is in its lower position. When it is desired to raise the structure, the operator steps on the foot pedal and presses it downward opening the toggle formed by the members 30 and 32 and lifting the carriage and rack. A pair of cross members 40, 40 interconnects the members 82, 32 and consequently identical movement will be applied to both members and thus to both carriages. This movement continues until the toggle joint 3! passes dead center at which time a lug or stop 4! fixed to the member 32 engages the member 30 to prevent further movement.

The weight of the tray support then prevents the toggle from further movement until it is purposely moved back across center by the unlocking pedal 4m pivoted to the frame at Mb and having a lug 4|c adapted to engage the toggle member 32 and to move the toggle back past center after which the weight of the tray support will cause the toggle to collapse. A tension spring 42 having one end fixed to a lug 63 on the toggle member 32 and its other end connected to the one v end of a turn buckle M attached to the frame structure at 45 is slack when the tray support is raised but as the support descends is tightened and operates to check or slow up the fall of the tray support.

The upper ends of the vertical frame members 6 and I each carry a bracket 46 fixed thereto by bolts 41, and these brackets at 48, 48 pivotally support the lower ends of lugs 59, 43 the upper ends of which are welded to horizontal track elements 5!], 5B spaced from and extending along the upper portion of the frame structure. The track elements as best shown in Fig. '7 are of modified U-shape in cross section having the opening of the U at the side and having the ends inturned slightly. A tie rod 5| interconnects the forward free ends of the track elements holding them in parallelism. The forward ends of the track elements are each further provided with an inwardly extending lug 5la thefree end of which carries a roller 51b engaging the vertical frame 8 and 9 thus guiding the movement of the tracks as will be later described.

The forward ends of the track elements 5U, 59 are simultaneously raised or lowered by means which are identical and therefore the description of one of said means will serve for both.

Depending from the forward end of each of the horizontal track elements is a lug or arm 52 which is pivotally connected at 53 to one end of a toggle member 54 the other end of which is pivoted to and forms a toggle joint with one end of a second toggle member 55 and 56. The other end of the latter is pivoted at 51 to a lug 58 carried by the frame member I and terminates in a foot pedal member 59 upon depressing which, the toggle is moved slightly across center raising the tracks 50, 50 to a level position as shown in Fig. 3. In this position a lug 60 carried by the toggle member 55 engages the member 54 to prevent further movement and a tension spring 6| connected at one end to one of the cross bars 62, 62 interconnecting the lower ends of the toggle members 55, 55 and at its other end to a turnbuckle 63 attached to the frame structure at 64 tends to check the toggle mechanism when it is unlocked and the weight of the tracks and devices carried thereby is allowed to drop. This unlocking is accomplished by means of a foot pedal 65 pivoted at B8 to the frame member I and having an outturncd lug 61 adapted to engage the shank of the foot pedal 59. V

The tracks 50, 50 support a carriage structure comprising a main frame member 68 of shallow, inverted U-shape the extremities of which are provided with cross bar elements 69, 59 which elements at their ends carry rollers 'lil engaging the interior lower faces of the tracks 55, 58. The nuts 10a, Illa associated with the tie rod 5! serve to limit travel of the carriage in one direction and cross pins 10b, 102) at the other end of the tracks limit the travel of the carriage in the other direction. Welded to and depending from the shank of the member 68 adjacent the depending ends thereof are pairs of spaced strap elements H, H, the lower ends of which are welded to the upper edges of a glaze distributing trough 72, disposed above and movable into and out of the trough l5 incident to the raising and lowering of the tracks 50, 50 by the means above described.

The bottom of the trough i2 is provided with a slot 13 extending from end to end thereof which slot is normally closed by a valve member i l in the form of a metal strip of inverted L-shaped cross section whereof the horizontal leg rides on the interior of the trough bottom and the vertical leg engages one side wall of the slot 2'3 as most clearly shown in Fig. 6. The valve member is carried by a rock shaft 15 J'ournalled in bearings iii, I6 in the end walls 17, 11 of the trough and is provided with a series of integrally formed depending arms 18 to which the valve member is connected. The rock shaft is further provided with an upstanding arm 19 the free end of which is bent into parallelism with the member 88 and carries a handle 80. A tension spring 81 extending between the wall of the trough and the arm 19 operates to maintain the valve normally closed. Additionally, the bottom of the trough '12 at one side of the slot 13 is provided with a series of openings 82 covered by a flap valve member 83 hinged to the interior of the trough at 84.

In use the machine is placed in close proximity to a cooking device, preferably of the type which is adapted to the cooking of successive batches of doughnuts, crullers or the like. At the beginning of operations, the pan I3 and trough are filled with a hot sugar syrup of a type that will quickly harden at ordinary room temperature, the extent of filling being sufficient to cover the tray 39 when it is in its lowest position. When the trough 12 is in its lowest position the syrup will flow into it through the openings 82. A batch of freshly cooked and still hot doughnuts is dropped into the icing above the submerged tray 39. Then by depressing the foot treadle 59 the tracks are raised as shown in Fig. 3 at which time the glaze distributing trough I2 is lifted clear of the partition wall it and by grasping the member 68 it can be moved back and forth along the tracks 58, 59 above the doughnuts floating on the icing as shown in Fig. 11. During this traverse the operator opens the valve 14 slightly allowing the glaze in the trough to pour down on the doughnuts thus coating the portions not in contact with the glaze in the pan 14. The operator then releases the toggle 54, 55 by pressing the pedal 65 allowing the trough 12 to enter the trough I5 for refilling. Next the operator depresses the treadle 35 raising the tray 39 above the body of glazing syrup and allows the surplus icing to drain back into the pan for a few seconds.

Extending rearwardly from the machine is a bracket 88 which at its distal end supports one end of a tray 81 the other end of which rests on the flange l2. To remove the glaze coated doughnuts from the rack 39 the operator picks up a receiving tray 88 from an adjacent stack and fits the end of it between the forked ends of a pair of clips 89, 89 at the rear end of the tray 39 as shown in Fig. 13 and swings the tray 88 over the tray 39 to approximately the position A in that figure. Then the operator grasps the handle 98 attached to the tray 39 and, holding the two trays together with the doughnuts held therebetween, swings the two trays as a unit about the pivot pins 39', 39' to the position B in Fig. 13 at which point the receiving tray 88 is allowed to drop down on the tray 81 with the doughnuts which have been transferred to it by the above described inversion of the trays after which the tray 39 is swung back into position on the supporting rods and is submerged in the glaze to receive the next batch. The receiving tray is then transferred to a rack to allow the glazed doughnuts to cool and the machine is then ready for the next cycle of operation. An experienced operator can perform the above described cycle of operation in about seconds so that in batches of four dozen each, a single operator can glaze upwards of twelve dozen doughnuts per minute. It will be noted that the doughnuts are never touched by the operator and that the entire operation takes place either in or above the pan or above the tray or shelf 89 which, it will be noted, is inclined to deliver any drippings back to the pan I3, thus keeping the surrounding floor clean, and safe. Furthermore since the tray 39 is provided with raised portions 38a, 39a against which the tray 88 engages, the doughnuts are not squeezed between the trays during their transfer from one tray to the other.

While in the foregoing specification reference has been constantly made to the use of the machine in connection with glazin doughnuts, the selection of the product has been only by way of example and it will be understood that the use of the term doughnuts is not a term of limitation and that it is intended that the machine shall be used for any other products such as crullers, sweet rolls and the like in the production of which it may be used to advantage.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claim.

I claim:

In a glazing machine for doughnuts and the like embodying a frame structure, a pan on said structure for containing glazing material, a vertically movable tray supporting carriage for moving a tray in and out of the glazing material in said pan, a tiltable track, a carriage on said track and means on said carriage for pouring a glazing material on a batch of doughnuts or the like floating on the material in said pan; toggle members connected to said tray supporting carriage, a foot pedal for actuating said toggle members to raise and lower said carriage, a locking pedal for releasably engaging said foot pedal for holding said tray supporting carriage in an elevated position, spring means for cushioning downward movement of said tray supporting carriage, toggle members connected to said tiltable track, a foot lever for actuating said toggle members to raise and lower said track, a releasable locking pedal for engaging said last named foot lever for holding said track in its elevated position and spring means for cushioning downward movement of said track.

VIRGIL E. ACKLES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,045,272 Hornkohl et al g June 23, 1936 2,222,390 Ackles Nov. 19, 1940 2,417,614 Ratclifi Mar. .18, 1947 

